Commissioners weigh adding data-center language to comp plan as moratorium gives county a year for research

During review of public comments and the draft comprehensive plan, commissioners and staff discussed concerns about data centers and a proposed "landing" site on parcel 611. Staff summarized emailed comments opposing the projects and said the comments and attachments would be forwarded to the county commissioners as part of the recommendation package.

Members debated whether to add explicit data-center language to the comp plan or to keep a more general policy statement about large-scale digital infrastructure while the moratorium and research proceed. "The moratorium went into effect in July, and we've got a year to develop legislation and do the research," staff said. Some commissioners favored leaving the draft comp plan as written and sending policy suggestions to the county commissioners to study in the interim.